Changes are abounding for me personally and in our remodeling company this month! In August, we consolidated our office space for our remodeling business and that meant my office had to move. It was a long process. I can't believe just how much stuff accumulates over the course of 24 years! But it also meant a thorough cleaning and re-organization. It's amazing how refreshed that can make one feel!
The second change was taking our daughter to college. That's an even bigger one because she's an only child. The house seems quiet but I'm keeping myself busy with lots of projects.
Look for more changes in On The Level Consulting in September. We are adding more items to make running your company easier. And a new service to help you improve your company's Google local search ranking.
Regards,
Annette
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
It was a sad day at our remodeling company’s office
Today our administrative assistant’s father passed away unexpectedly. Our hearts ache for the family as they deal with their grief.
I thought about our small group and how we have come together in the past to help each other deal with grief and pain. And we’ve been there to help with the celebrations, too.
I’d never really thought about it too much before, but our group has been through much together. We’ve cried together at 4 funerals, celebrated together at 2 weddings, rejoiced over 3 grandbabies, and commemorated 3 of our children as they graduated high school. I’m happy that we’ve had no divorces.
Today we again vow to help our friend bear her pain. We’ll fill in for her while she is away. We’ll comfort her when she returns. And, hopefully, we’ll help her ease into a new normal. Because that’s what friends do.
I thought about our small group and how we have come together in the past to help each other deal with grief and pain. And we’ve been there to help with the celebrations, too.
I’d never really thought about it too much before, but our group has been through much together. We’ve cried together at 4 funerals, celebrated together at 2 weddings, rejoiced over 3 grandbabies, and commemorated 3 of our children as they graduated high school. I’m happy that we’ve had no divorces.
Today we again vow to help our friend bear her pain. We’ll fill in for her while she is away. We’ll comfort her when she returns. And, hopefully, we’ll help her ease into a new normal. Because that’s what friends do.
Friday, December 26, 2008
My "New Normal"
Since my dad passed away in September of this year, each holiday has been a bittersweet memory of happy times along with the sadness of knowing we won’t have any more with him. I call this my “new normal.” It’s tough getting used to a “new normal.” I liken it to the housing crisis where we are all adjusting to a “new normal.” But adjust, we do. Time, the perpetual healer, is on our side. We just have to hang in there long enough.
Wishing you peace,
Annette
Wishing you peace,
Annette
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Happy Holidays!
Whatever holiday you and your family celebrate, we would like to wish you a happy one!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Why Do We Celebrate Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is Tuesday, November 11th. Do you know what Veterans Day means? Having a father who was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, I was curious.
The day actually began in honor of Armistice Day – November 11, 1918, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed at 11 a.m. in Paris to officially end World War I. Armistice Day was passed by Congress in 1938 and was “dedicated to the cause of world peace” and honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after America fought in two more wars – World War II and the Korean War - Congress changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day in order to honor American veterans of all wars. Veterans Day always falls on November 11th.
Please join me in honoring the 25 million veterans. Thank you for your service and sacrifices. We are grateful.
The day actually began in honor of Armistice Day – November 11, 1918, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed at 11 a.m. in Paris to officially end World War I. Armistice Day was passed by Congress in 1938 and was “dedicated to the cause of world peace” and honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after America fought in two more wars – World War II and the Korean War - Congress changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day in order to honor American veterans of all wars. Veterans Day always falls on November 11th.
Please join me in honoring the 25 million veterans. Thank you for your service and sacrifices. We are grateful.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
On The Level Consulting's Blog, On The Level Advice for Remodeling Professionals, is Back
We are back. I apologize for our unscheduled hiatus during the month of September. My father passed away on September 8th. It has been a difficult time, first dealing with an end-of-life illness and then with the funeral arrangements. My father had been sick for quite a long time with congestive heart failure. I thought that I had prepared myself for the inevitability of his passing but I found, as the moment grew nearer, that no one is ever fully prepared. I will say that Hospice is a wonderful, caring organization and they helped us through many of the twists and turns of end-of-life, allowing our family to spend time with my father.
I have found since my dad passed that life is now a series of making “new normals.” What I mean is that all of the routines and traditions that surrounded my family’s lives are changed forever. Some are huge changes like the mere fact that my dad is no longer around. And some are much more subtle, like the other day when I was in the Hallmark card shop and realized that I would never buy another birthday card for my dad. I find myself saddened and even teary at times by these “firsts” that I experience.
Yet I know that this is not the way he would want any of his family to live. He was a World War II and Korean War veteran, grew up during the Great Depression, migrated west during the Dust Bowl, and became legally blind due to macular degeneration. Yet he never complained, even toward the end of his life. He accepted his lot.
And I know that he would tell me to just start doing. Put one foot in front of the other and begin, once again, the spectacular journey of living.
And so I do. Some days it’s easy. Other days, it’s not. There is a large gap that cannot be filled. Yet I know that it will become easier to move forward as time, the perpetual healer, marches on.
We appreciate your understanding in our time of loss.
Annette Greco
On The Level Consulting
I have found since my dad passed that life is now a series of making “new normals.” What I mean is that all of the routines and traditions that surrounded my family’s lives are changed forever. Some are huge changes like the mere fact that my dad is no longer around. And some are much more subtle, like the other day when I was in the Hallmark card shop and realized that I would never buy another birthday card for my dad. I find myself saddened and even teary at times by these “firsts” that I experience.
Yet I know that this is not the way he would want any of his family to live. He was a World War II and Korean War veteran, grew up during the Great Depression, migrated west during the Dust Bowl, and became legally blind due to macular degeneration. Yet he never complained, even toward the end of his life. He accepted his lot.
And I know that he would tell me to just start doing. Put one foot in front of the other and begin, once again, the spectacular journey of living.
And so I do. Some days it’s easy. Other days, it’s not. There is a large gap that cannot be filled. Yet I know that it will become easier to move forward as time, the perpetual healer, marches on.
We appreciate your understanding in our time of loss.
Annette Greco
On The Level Consulting
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Family Celebrations
We made a quick trip to upstate New York last weekend. A 2 ½ day, 900 mile journey accentuated by bad traffic and expensive hotel rooms thanks to a NASCAR race in Pennsylvania. But the trip was important. It was for a special birthday party. You see, my grandmother turned 99! Yes, I can’t believe it. And neither can she! That’s all she said at her party. “I can’t believe I’m 99!”
Clara Greco has always lived life on her own terms. Coming to America as a young bride from Italy, she set up house with her husband in Boston. He drove a bakery truck, she worked as a housekeeper at Harvard. They became citizens. They bought a house. They raised a family. Her husband passed away. She lived on her own until she was 95, deciding it was time to go to a nursing home. She loves the home. She participates in all the activities. She’s not particularly fond of the food.
What does this have to do with my remodeling business? Nothing. Except a reminder that our families come first. Take time to visit, to celebrate, to honor.
Happy Birthday, Clara! See you next year for 100.
Clara Greco has always lived life on her own terms. Coming to America as a young bride from Italy, she set up house with her husband in Boston. He drove a bakery truck, she worked as a housekeeper at Harvard. They became citizens. They bought a house. They raised a family. Her husband passed away. She lived on her own until she was 95, deciding it was time to go to a nursing home. She loves the home. She participates in all the activities. She’s not particularly fond of the food.
What does this have to do with my remodeling business? Nothing. Except a reminder that our families come first. Take time to visit, to celebrate, to honor.
Happy Birthday, Clara! See you next year for 100.
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